Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Abstract and Applied Analysis

Volume 2013, Article ID 891249, 8 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/891249

Research Article
On the Geometry of the Unit Ball of a 𝐽𝐵∗-Triple

Haifa M. Tahlawi, Akhlaq A. Siddiqui, and Fatmah B. Jamjoom

Department of Mathematics, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Correspondence should be addressed to Fatmah B. Jamjoom; fatmahj@yahoo.com

Received 14 February 2013; Revised 5 May 2013; Accepted 8 May 2013

Academic Editor: Ngai-Ching Wong

Copyright © 2013 Haifa M. Tahlawi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.

We explore a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple analogue of the notion of quasi invertible elements, originally studied by Brown and Pedersen in the setting
of 𝐶∗ -algebras. This class of BP-quasi invertible elements properly includes all invertible elements and all extreme points of the unit
ball and is properly included in von Neumann regular elements in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple; this indicates their structural richness. We initiate a
study of the unit ball of a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple investigating some structural properties of the BP-quasi invertible elements; here and in sequent
papers, we show that various results on unitary convex decompositions and regular approximations can be extended to the setting
of BP-quasi invertible elements. Some 𝐶∗ -algebra and 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra results, due to Kadison and Pedersen, Rørdam, Brown, Wright
and Youngson, and Siddiqui, including the Russo-Dye theorem, are extended to 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples.

1. Introduction concerning the Bergman operators, we established that in

Brown and Pedersen [1] introduced a notion of quasi invert-
ible elements in a 𝐶∗ -algebra. As is well explained in [1, 2],
the Brown-Pedersen quasi (in short, BP-quasi) invertible
elements bear many interesting properties similar to those of
invertible elements. They have successfully demonstrated the
significant role of BP-quasi invertible elements in studying
geometry of the unit ball of a 𝐶∗ -algebra; in particular, they
obtained several results verifying that the relationships bet-
ween the extreme convex decomposition theory and the dis-
tance 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) from an element 𝑥 to the set of BP-quasi invertible
elements are analogous with the relationships in the earlier
𝐶∗ -algebra theory of unitary convex decompositions and
regular approximations.
It is widely believed that the underlying structure making
several interesting results on 𝐶∗ -algebras hold is not the
presence of an associative product 𝑥𝑦 but the presence
of the Jordan triple product {𝑥𝑦𝑧} = (1/2)(𝑥𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑦𝑥).
This provided one of the stimuli for the development of
Jordan algebra or Jordan triple product generalizations of 𝐶∗ -
algebras; these include 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebras and 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples together
with their subclasses which are Banach dual spaces (cf. [3]).
In [4, 5], we introduced an exact analogue of the BP-quasi
invertible elements for 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples. By using certain identities
case of nondegenrate Jordan triples 𝐵(𝑎, 𝑏) = 0 ⇒ 𝐵(𝑏, 𝑎) = 0
and {𝑎𝑏𝑎} = 𝑎 and that 𝑎 is BP-quasi invertible with BP-quasi
inverse 𝑏 ⇔ 𝐵(𝑎, 𝑏) = 0 [5]. Our aim in this paper is to
study geometric consequences of these facts in the setting of
complex 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples. After discussing some basics, we begin
by recording a known result: {𝑎𝑏𝑎} = 𝑎 ⇒ 𝑎 is von Neumann
regular that admits a tripotent 𝑒𝑎 , called its range tripotent.
We prove that 𝐵(𝑎, 𝑏) = 0 ⇔ 𝑒𝑎 is an extreme point of the
unit ball and that the set of BP-quasi invertible elements of a
𝐽𝐵∗ -triple is open in the norm topology. Then we investigate
the natural analogue of the Russo-Dye theorem [6, 7] on the
representability of the elements with means of extreme points
of the unit ball. Later on, we look at convex combinations of
extreme points of the unit ball. In the course of our analysis,
we obtain 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple analogues of some 𝐶∗ -algebra results;
this approach provides alternative proofs for some of the
corresponding known results for 𝐶∗ -algebras.
A Jordan triple system is a vector space J over a field of
characteristic not 2, endowed with a triple product {𝑥𝑦𝑧}
which is linear and symmetric in the outer variables 𝑥, 𝑧,
and linear or antilinear in the inner variable 𝑦 satisfying the
Jordan triple identity: {𝑥𝑢{𝑦V𝑧}} + {{𝑥V𝑦}𝑢𝑧} − {𝑦V{𝑥𝑢𝑧}} =
{𝑥{𝑢𝑦V}𝑧} [3]. A 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple is a complex Banach space J
together with a continuous, sesquilinear, operator-valued
2 Abstract and Applied Analysis
map (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ J × J 󳨃→ 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦) that defines a triple product
𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑧 := {𝑥𝑦∗ 𝑧} in J making it a Jordan triple system such
that each 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥) is a positive hermitian operator on J and
‖{𝑥𝑥∗ 𝑥}‖ = ‖𝑥‖3 for all 𝑥 ∈ J. Any bounded symmetric
domain in a complex Banach space is biholomorphically
equivalent to the open unit ball of a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple [8, 9]. An
important example, from the viewpoint of the classical theory
of operators and matrices, is the triple system B(H, K) of
all bounded linear operators between complex Hilbert spaces
H and K under the product {𝑥𝑦𝑧} = (1/2)(𝑥𝑦∗ 𝑧 + 𝑧𝑦∗ 𝑥)
and the operator norm, where 𝑥∗ denotes the Hilbert adjoint
of 𝑥 (cf. [10]). In the finite-dimensional case, this can be
viewed as adding an algebraic product to a linear matrix space
M𝑚𝑛 (C) of all 𝑚 × 𝑛 matrices with complex number entries,
namely, the triple product {𝑥𝑦𝑧} = (1/2)(𝑥𝑦𝑡 𝑧 + 𝑧𝑦𝑡 𝑥) where
𝑦𝑡 denotes the conjugate transpose of the matrix 𝑦 and the
norm defined by ‖𝑧‖ = √𝑧𝑧𝑡 (see [11, Example 4.7]). Any
𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra (cf. [3]) is a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple under the triple product
{𝑥𝑦∗ 𝑧} := (𝑥 ∘ 𝑦∗ ) ∘ 𝑧 + (𝑧 ∘ 𝑦∗ ) ∘ 𝑥 − (𝑥 ∘ 𝑧) ∘ 𝑦∗ , where “∘”
denotes the underlying Jordan binary product.
A basic operator 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦) on the 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J is defined
by 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑧 = {𝑥𝑧∗ 𝑦} for all 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 ∈ J; we write 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑥) in
short as 𝑃(𝑥). The Bergman operator 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦) is defined on J
by 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝐼 − 2𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦) + 𝑃(𝑥)𝑃(𝑦), where 𝐼 is the identity
operator [12, 2.11]. The operators 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦) and 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦) are the
𝐽𝐵∗ -triple analogues of the usual Jordan algebra operators
𝑉𝑥,𝑦 𝑧 := {𝑥𝑦𝑧} and 𝑈𝑥,𝑦 𝑧 := {𝑥𝑧𝑦}, respectively; in fact,
𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑉𝑥,𝑦∗ and 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑧 = 𝑈𝑥,𝑦 𝑧∗ for all 𝑧 ∈ J. The
Bergman operator takes the form 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝐼 − 2𝑉𝑥,𝑦∗ +
𝑈𝑥 𝑈𝑦∗ , which translates to 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑧 = (1 − 𝑥𝑦∗ )𝑧(1 − 𝑦∗ 𝑥) for
the 𝐶∗ -algebra case.
2. BP-Quasi Invertible Elements
We begin with the following characterization of BP-quasi
invertible elements of a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple (cf. [5, Theorem 6]).
Definition 1. In any 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple, an element 𝑥 is BP-quasi
invertible with BP-quasi inverse 𝑦 if (and only if) the Ber-
gman operator 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦) = 0.
In any 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J, 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦) = 0 ⇔ 𝐵(𝑦, 𝑥) = 0 by [5,
Theorem 2], and so the relation of being BP-quasi inverse of
some element is symmetric in J. Generally, BP-quasi inverse
in not unique: if 𝑥 ∈ J−1 𝑞 with BP-quasi inverse 𝑦, then
𝑃(𝑦)𝑥 is also a BP-quasi inverse of 𝑥 since 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑃(𝑦)𝑥) =
𝐼 − 2𝐿(𝑥, 𝑃(𝑦)𝑥) + 𝑃(𝑥)𝑃(𝑃(𝑦)𝑥) = 𝐼 − 2𝐿(𝑃(𝑥)𝑦, 𝑦) +
𝑃(𝑥)𝑃(𝑦)𝑃(𝑥)𝑃(𝑦) = 𝐼 − 2𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦) + 𝑃(𝑥)𝑃(𝑦) (cf. [12]) =
𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦) = 0. We denote the set of BP-quasi invertible elements
in J by J−1 −1
𝑞 . J𝑞 includes the set of all invertible elements
J−1 and the set of all extreme points E(J)1 of the closed
unit ball (J)1 ; and in case of a 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra J, the BP-quasi
invertibility is invariant under the involution “∗” (cf. [4]).
In the 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple M23 (C), all matrices of the form [ 𝛼0 𝛽0 00 ],
where 𝛼, 𝛽 are any nonzero complex numbers, are BP-quasi
invertible with BP-quasi inverse of the form [ 1/𝛼 0 0
0 1/𝛽 0 ].
An element 𝑥 in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J is called von Neumann
regular if there exists 𝑦 ∈ J with 𝑥 = 𝑃(𝑥)𝑦. Such an
element 𝑦 is called generalized inverse of 𝑥 [13]. If J is a 𝐽𝐵∗ -
algebra, then 𝑥 = 𝑃(𝑥)𝑦 = {𝑥𝑦∗ 𝑥}, and so 𝑦 is a generalized
inverse of 𝑥 in J considered as a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple if and only if
𝑦∗ is a generalized inverse of 𝑥 in the 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra J. From
[5, Theorem 3], we know that 𝑥 and 𝑦 are von Neumann
regular with generalized inverses of each other if 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦) = 0.
Hence, any BP-quasi invertible element is necessarily von
Neumann regular. For a von Neumann regular element in
the 𝐶∗ -algebra M2 (C) of 2 × 2 matrices that is not BP-quasi
invertible, see [5, Example 9]. Thus, the class of BP-quasi
invertible elements is a proper subclass of the von Neumann
regular elements.
For any fixed element 𝑎 in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J, the underlying
linear space J becomes a complex Jordan algebra J[𝑎] with
respect to the Jordan product 𝑥 ⋅𝑎 𝑦 := {𝑥𝑎𝑦}, called 𝑎-
homotope of J (cf. [3]). An element 𝑢 in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J
is called unitary if 𝐿(𝑢, 𝑢)𝑧 = 𝑧 [3]; the set of all unitary
elements is denoted by U(J). For any 𝑢 ∈ U(J), the 𝑢-
homotope of J is a 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra with respect to the original
norm and the involution “∗𝑢 ” given by 𝑥∗𝑢 = 𝑃(𝑢)𝑥 (cf. [3]);
such a homotope is denoted by J[𝑢] , called a unitary isotope
of J. The symbols 𝑃𝑢 (𝑥, 𝑦), 𝐿 𝑢 (𝑥, 𝑦), 𝐵𝑢 (𝑥, 𝑦) will denote
the respective analogues of the operators 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦), 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦),
and 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦) on the isotope J[𝑢] . Thus, 𝑃𝑢 (𝑥, 𝑦)𝑧 = {𝑥𝑧∗𝑢 𝑦}𝑢
and 𝐿 𝑢 (𝑥, 𝑦)𝑧 = {𝑥𝑦∗𝑢 𝑧}𝑢 for all 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 ∈ J; in particular,
𝑃𝑢 (𝑥)𝑧 = 𝑃𝑢 (𝑥, 𝑥)𝑧 = {𝑥𝑧∗𝑢 𝑥}𝑢 . Here, {⋅ ⋅ ⋅ }𝑢 denotes the
induced Jordan triple product in J[𝑢] .
Theorem 2. For any fixed unitary element 𝑢 of a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J
and for all 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 ∈ J, one has the following:
(i) the Jordan triple product {𝑥𝑦∗𝑢 𝑧}𝑢 in J[𝑢] coincides
with {𝑥𝑦∗ 𝑧};
(ii) 𝑃𝑢 (𝑥) = 𝑃(𝑥);
(iii) 𝐿 𝑢 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦);
(iv) 𝐵𝑢 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦);
(v) (J[𝑢] )−1 −1
𝑞 = (J)𝑞 .
Proof. (i) By using the basic Jordan triple identity, we get that
∗
{𝑥𝑦∗𝑢 𝑧}𝑢 = {𝑥{𝑢(𝑦∗𝑢 ) 𝑢} 𝑧}
∗
+ {𝑦∗𝑢 𝑢∗ {𝑥𝑢∗ 𝑧}} − {{𝑥𝑢∗ 𝑦∗𝑢 } 𝑢∗ 𝑧}
− {𝑦∗𝑢 𝑢∗ {𝑥𝑢∗ 𝑧}} + {𝑧𝑢∗ {𝑥𝑢∗ 𝑦∗𝑢 }} (1)
∗ ∗
∗ ∗
= {𝑥{𝑢(𝑦∗𝑢 ) 𝑢} 𝑧} = {𝑥((𝑦∗𝑢 ) 𝑢 ) 𝑧}
= {𝑥𝑦∗ 𝑧} .
(ii) By the part (i), 𝑃𝑢 (𝑥)𝑧 = {𝑥𝑧∗𝑢 𝑥}𝑢 = {𝑥𝑧∗ 𝑥} = 𝑃(𝑥)𝑧
for all 𝑥 ∈ J.
(iii) For any 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ J, 𝑃(𝑎, 𝑏) = 𝑃(𝑎 + 𝑏) − 𝑃(𝑎) − 𝑃(𝑏)
(cf. [12]). This together with the part (ii) gives 𝐿 𝑢 (𝑥, 𝑦)𝑧 =
𝑃𝑢 (𝑥, 𝑧)𝑦 = 𝑃𝑢 (𝑥 + 𝑧)𝑦 − 𝑃𝑢 (𝑥)𝑦 − 𝑃𝑢 (𝑧)𝑦 = 𝑃(𝑥 + 𝑧)𝑦 −
𝑃(𝑥)𝑦 − 𝑃(𝑧)𝑦 = 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑧)𝑦 = 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑧 for all 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 ∈ J.
Abstract and Applied Analysis
(iv) Follows from parts (ii) and (iii) since 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝐼 −
2𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦) + 𝑃(𝑥)𝑃(𝑦).
(v) 𝑥 ∈ J−1𝑞 ⇔ 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦) = 0 ⇔ 𝐵𝑢 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 0 (by (iv))
⇔ 𝑥 ∈ (J[𝑢] )−1
𝑞 .
We close this section with the following observation on
images of BP-quasi invertible elements under triple homo-
morphisms.
Theorem 3. For any closed ideal 𝑉 in 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J, the triple
homomorphism 𝜙 : J → J/𝑉 given by 𝜙(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 𝑉
preserves the BP-quasi invertibility.
Proof. 𝑉 being closed ideal of J is a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple, and so
is the quotient J/𝑉. The quotient 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J/𝑉 admits
the canonical surjective triple homomorphism 𝜙 : J →
J/𝑉 defined by 𝜙(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 𝑉 such that 𝜙({𝑥𝑦𝑧}) =
{𝜙(𝑥)𝜙(𝑦∗ )𝜙(𝑧)} for all 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 ∈ J [8, Proposition 5.5].
Now, for any fixed 𝑥 ∈ J−1 𝑞 with inverse 𝑦 ∈ J and for
all 𝑧 ∈ J, 𝐵(𝜙(𝑥), 𝜙(𝑦))𝜙(𝑧) = 𝜙(𝑧) − 2{𝜙(𝑥)(𝜙(𝑦))∗ 𝜙(𝑧)} +
{𝜙(𝑥){𝜙(𝑦)(𝜙(𝑧))∗ 𝜙(𝑦)}∗ 𝜙(𝑥)} = 𝜙(𝑧) − 2𝜙({𝑥𝑦∗ 𝑧}) +
𝜙({𝑥{𝑦𝑧∗ 𝑦}∗ 𝑥}) = 𝜙(𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦)(𝑧)) = 𝜙(0) = 0. Hence, 𝜙(𝑥) ∈
(J/𝑉)−1𝑞 .
3. Positivity of BP-Quasi Invertibles
In this section, we prove that any BP-quasi invertible element
in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J is positive invertible in the Peirce 1-space
J1 (V) := {𝑥 ∈ J | 𝐿(V, V)𝑥 = 𝑥} of the operator 𝐿(V, V) for
certain extreme point V of the closed unit ball. Besides other
results, we obtain another characterization of the BP-quasi
invertible elements. The following result is known in pieces;
we include it with a unified proof.
Theorem 4. For each von Neumann regular element 𝑥 of a
𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J, there exists a unique tripotent 𝑒𝑥 ∈ J such that
𝑥 is positive invertible in J1 (𝑒𝑥 ).
Proof. Since 𝑥 is von Neumann regular, there exists a unique
tripotent 𝑒𝑥 ∈ J, called the range tripotent of 𝑥 (cf. [10])
such that 𝑥 is invertible in the Peirce space J1 (𝑒𝑥 ) (cf. [10,
Lemma 3.2], [14, page 540], and [15, Theorem 1]). Let J(𝑥)
denotes the norm closure of 𝑃(𝑥)(J) = {𝑥J𝑥}, which is the
smallest norm closed inner ideal of J containing 𝑥 (cf. [16,
pages 19-20]). From [10, Lemma 3.2], we see that 𝑃(𝑥)(J) is
norm closed in J. Hence, J(𝑥) = 𝑃(𝑥)(J) = J1 (𝑒𝑥 ) since 𝑥
is von Neumann regular in J (cf. [10, page 572]). Thus, 𝑥 is
positive in J1 (𝑒𝑥 ) by [16, Proposition 2.1].
Remark 5. The range tripotent 𝑒𝑥 of 𝑥 is defined as the least
tripotent for which 𝑥 is a positive element in the 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra
J1 (𝑒𝑥 ). If 𝑢 and V are two tripotents in J such that 𝑥
is positive invertible in both the Peirce spaces J1 (𝑢) and
J1 (V), then 𝑢 = V; for details, see [17, Lemma 3.3] and [16,
Proposition 2.1].
Theorem 6. Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple and 𝑥 ∈ J−1
𝑞 . Then the
range tripotent 𝑒𝑥 is a unique extreme point of (J)1 such that 𝑥
is positive invertible in J1 (𝑒𝑥 ). Moreover, there exists a unique
3
𝑦 ∈ J−1
𝑞 satisfying 𝑃(𝑥)𝑦 = 𝑥, 𝑃(𝑦)𝑥 = 𝑦, 𝑃(𝑥)𝑃(𝑦) =
𝑃(𝑦)𝑃(𝑥), and 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝐿(𝑒𝑥 , 𝑒𝑥 ) = 𝐿(𝑦, 𝑥).
Proof. Since 𝑥 being BP-quasi invertible is a von Neumann
regular element, Theorem 4 gives the existence of a unique
tripotent 𝑒𝑥 in J such that 𝑥 is positive invertible in J1 (𝑒𝑥 ).
By [10, Lemma 3.2], there exists a unique generalized inverse
𝑦 ∈ J satisfying all the conditions of the theorem; in
fact, this generalized inverse is called the Moore-Penrose
inverse, usually denoted by 𝑥† . Since {𝑥𝑥† 𝑥} = 𝑥, {𝑧𝑥† 𝑥} =
{𝑧𝑥† {𝑥𝑥† 𝑥}} = 2{{𝑧𝑥† 𝑥}𝑥† 𝑥} − {𝑥{𝑥† 𝑧𝑥† }𝑥} for all 𝑧 ∈ J.
So that 𝑃(𝑥)𝑃(𝑥† ) = 2𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥† )2 − 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥† ). Hence, 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑥† ) =
1 − 3𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥† ) + 2𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥† )2 = (2𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥† ) − 1)(𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥† ) − 1). In
view of [18, Lemma 2.1] and [10, page 573], we have 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥† ) =
𝐿(𝑒𝑥 , 𝑒𝑥 ) = 𝐿(𝑥† , 𝑥) since 𝑒𝑥 is the unique von Neumann
regular element in (J)1 (𝑒𝑥 ). Therefore, 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑥† ) = 𝐵(𝑒𝑥 , 𝑒𝑥 ) =
Π0 , where Π𝜇 stands for the Peirce projection associated with
the tripotent 𝑒𝑥 onto the subtriple J𝜇 (𝑒𝑥 ) = {𝑧 : 𝐿(𝑒𝑥 , 𝑒𝑥 )𝑧 =
𝜇𝑧} (cf. [12]). In [19, page 192], authors show that 𝑒𝑥 is unitary
in 𝑃(𝑥)J, hence 𝑃(𝑥)J = J1 (𝑒𝑥 ). Therefore, 𝑒𝑥 ∈ E(J)1 by
[20, Lemma 4]. Thus, 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑥† ) = 𝐵(𝑒𝑥 , 𝑒𝑥 ) = 0. We conclude
that 𝑦 ∈ J−1𝑞 .
Remark 7. The unique BP-quasi inverse of any BP-quasi
invertible matrix 𝑥 in the 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple M23 (C), satisfying the
conditions of Theorem 6, is precisely the Moore-Penrose
inverse 𝑥† (cf. [10, Lemma 3.2]), which can be calculated
according to the rank of the matrix (cf. [21]). If rank(𝑥) =
2 then 𝑥𝑥𝑡 is invertible in M2 (C), and the Moore-Penrose
inverse of 𝑥 is given by 𝑥† = 𝑥𝑡 (𝑥𝑥𝑡 )−1 . For example, let 𝑥 =
[ 10 −1 0
1 1 ]. Then 𝑥 is BP-quasi invertible and its unique BP-quasi
inverse, via Theorem 6, is given by 𝑥† = (1/3) [ 21 −1 1
1 2 ]. Since
𝑥(𝑥 ) = (𝑥 ) 𝑥 = 𝑒 (the unit in M2 (C)), 𝑥(𝑥 ) 𝑦 = (𝑥† )𝑡 𝑥𝑦 =
† 𝑡 † 𝑡 † 𝑡
𝑦 for all 𝑦 ∈ 𝑀23 and so 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥† ) = 𝐼. Thus, 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑥† ) = 0.
Next result establishes an important topological property
of the BP-quasi invertible elements in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple.
Theorem 8. For any 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J, the set J−1
𝑞 is open in the
norm topology.
Proof. Assume 𝐵(𝑎, 𝑐) = 0 where 𝑐 = 𝑎† + 𝑧 for some nonzero
𝑧 ∈ J, and 𝑎† denotes the Moore-Penrose type inverse of
𝑎 (cf. [4, 10]). Consequently, 𝑃(𝑎)𝑐 = {𝑎𝑐∗ 𝑎} = 𝑎, and so
∗ ∗
𝑎 = {𝑎(𝑎† + 𝑧) 𝑎} = {𝑎(𝑎† ) 𝑎} + {𝑎𝑧∗ 𝑎} = 𝑎 + {𝑎𝑧∗ 𝑎}.
Thus, 𝑃(𝑎)𝑧 = {𝑎𝑧∗ 𝑎} = 0, which means 𝑃(𝑎† )𝑃(𝑎)𝑧 =
0. Recall that Π1 = 𝑃2 (V) = 𝑃(𝑎† )𝑃(𝑎) (see [10] and
[19, page 192]). Also, since {𝑎(Π1 ℎ)∗ 𝑎} = 0 implies that
Π1 ℎ = 0, the nonzero element 𝑧 ∉ range(Π1 ). Moreover,
as a projection, Π0 is the identity operator on J0 (V), so
Π0 𝐵(𝑎, 𝑐)Π0 = 𝐼Π0 = Π0 = 0 since 𝐵(𝑎, 𝑐) = 0. Thus,
range(Π0 ) = 0 and 𝑧 ∈ range(Π1/2 ) = J1/2 (V). Conversely,
if 𝑎 is BP-quasi invertible with the unique BP-quasi inverse
𝑎† and 𝑧 ∈ range(Π1/2 ) = J1/2 (V), then 𝐵(𝑎† , 𝑎 + 𝑧) =
2 2
1−3𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑎 + 𝑧) + 2𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑎 + 𝑧) = 1−3𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑎) + 2𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑎) −
2
3𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑧) + 2(𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑎)𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑧) + 𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑧)𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑎) + 𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑧) ) =
2
𝐵(𝑎† , 𝑎) + 2(𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑎)𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑧) + 𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑧)𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑎) + 𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑧) ).
4 Abstract and Applied Analysis
Since 𝐵(𝑎† , 𝑎) = 0 and {J1 J0 J} = 0 [12, Theorem 5.4 (9)],
𝐿(𝑎† , 𝑧) = 0, and we get the value 0 for the right hand side.
Hence 𝑎 + 𝑧 is BP-quasi invertible. The elements 𝑥 ∈ J1 (V) :=
range(Π1 ) with spectrum Sp(𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥))|J1 > 0 form an open
subset of J1 . It follows that {𝑥 + 𝑧 : Sp(𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥))|J1 (V) > 0, 𝑧 ∈
J1/2 (V)} is an open subset of J. Thus, J−1𝑞 is an open set.
Now, we give the following improvement of [22, Theo-
rem 4.12].
Theorem 9. Let 𝑥 be an invertible element in a unital 𝐽𝐵∗ -
algebra J. Then there exists unique 𝑢 ∈ U(J) such that 𝑥 is
positive and invertible in J[𝑢] .
Proof. Since 𝑥 ∈ J−1 , there is a unique element 𝑦 ∈ J with
𝑥 ∘ 𝑦 = 𝑒 and 𝑥2 ∘ 𝑦 = 𝑥 where “∘” denotes the Jordan binary
product and 𝑒 is the unit in J. Since J−1 ⊆ J−1 𝑞 and that any
𝐽𝐵 -algebra is a 𝐽𝐵 -triple under the triple product {𝑎𝑏∗ 𝑐} :=
∗ ∗
𝑎∘(𝑏∗ ∘𝑐)−𝑏∗ ∘(𝑎∘𝑐)+𝑐∘(𝑎∘𝑏∗ ), so, by Theorem 6, there exists
a unique 𝑢 ∈ E(J)1 (viz, the range tripotent 𝑒𝑥 ) such that
𝑥 is positive and invertible in J1 (𝑢) with the inverse of the
same 𝑦 in J1 (𝑢) (cf. [15, Theorem 6]). Moreover, 𝑥† = 𝑥−1 ,
and so 𝑉𝑢,𝑢∗ = 𝐿(𝑢, 𝑢) = 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑥† ) = 𝐼. Hence, the Peirce
decomposition of J reduces to J = J1 (𝑢). Of course, the
product and the involution defined on both the 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra
J1 (𝑢) and the unitary isotope J[𝑢] of J are the same. Further,
𝑒 = 𝑒 ∘𝑢 𝑢 = 𝑢 ∘𝑢 𝑒 = {𝑢𝑢∗ 𝑒} = 𝑢∘𝑢∗ and 𝑢 = 𝑢∘𝑢 𝑢 = {𝑢𝑢∗ 𝑢} =
2𝑢 ∘ (𝑢 ∘ 𝑢∗ ) − 𝑢2 ∘ 𝑢∗ , so that 𝑢2 ∘ 𝑢∗ = 𝑢. Hence, 𝑢 ∈ J−1
with inverse 𝑢∗ ; that is, 𝑢 ∈ U(J). We conclude that J1 (𝑢)
and J[𝑢] coincide as 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebras.
The following result shows that positive invertibility of an
element 𝑥 in the Peirce 1-space for some extreme point of the
unit ball is sufficient for the BP-quasi invertibility of 𝑥.
Theorem 10. Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple and 𝑥 ∈ J \ J−1 𝑞 . Then 𝑥
is not positive invertible in the Peirce 1-space J1 (V), for all V ∈
E(J)1 .
Proof. Suppose 𝑥 is positive invertible in J1 (V) for some
V ∈ E(J)1 . Then there exists a unique inverse 𝑦 ∈ J1 (V)
satisfying 𝑥 ⋅V 𝑦 = 𝑦 ⋅V 𝑥 = V and 𝑥2 ⋅V 𝑦 = 𝑥. Since (J(V))−1 ⊆
(J(V))−1𝑞 , 𝑥 is von Neumann regular with generalized inverse
𝑦 satisfying 𝑃V (𝑥)𝑦 = 𝑥 and 𝑃V (𝑦)𝑥 = 𝑦, where 𝑃V (𝑎)𝑏 =
{𝑎𝑏∗V 𝑎}V . Being positive, 𝑥 is self-adjoint in J1 (V); that is,
𝑥 = 𝑥∗V . However, the invertibility is invariant under the
involution (see above). Therefore, 𝑥 ∈ (J1 (V))−1 with inverse
𝑦 such that 𝑦 = 𝑥−1V = (𝑥∗V )−1V = (𝑥−1V )∗V = 𝑦∗V = 𝑃V 𝑦 by
Theorem 2. This together with the von Neumann regularity
of 𝑥 in J1 (V) gives 𝑥 = 𝑃V (𝑥)𝑦 = 𝑃(𝑥)𝑃(V)𝑦 = 𝑃(𝑥)𝑦. Thus,
the element 𝑥 is von Neumann regular in J.
Now, by Theorem 4, there exists a (unique) tripotent
𝑒𝑥 ∈ J such that 𝑥 is positive invertible in J1 (𝑒𝑥 ). Hence, by
Remark 5 and our supposition on 𝑥, we get the coincidence
J1 (𝑒𝑥 ) = J1 (V).
Next, by Theorem 6, 𝑦 is the unique generalized inverse
of 𝑥 satisfying 𝑃(𝑥)𝑦 = 𝑥, 𝑃(𝑦)𝑥 = 𝑦, and 𝐿(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝐿(V, V) =
𝐿(𝑦, 𝑥). Hence, 𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝐵(V, V) = 0. This means 𝑥 ∈ J−1
𝑞 ,a
contradiction to the hypothesis.
The above result together with Theorem 6 gives another
characterization of the BP-quasi invertibility, as follows.
Theorem 11. An element 𝑥 in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J is BP-quasi
invertible if and only if 𝑥 is positive and invertible in the Peirce
1-space J1 (V) for some extreme point V ∈ E(J)1 .
4. An Analogue of the Russo-Dye Theorem
We investigate the natural analogue of the Russo-Dye theo-
rem on the representability of the elements with arithmetic
means of extreme points of the unit ball in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple. We
extend [7, Theorem 2.2] for 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples as follows.
Theorem 12. Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple with V ∈ E(J)1 and 𝑠 ∈
(J1 (V))∘1 (the open unit ball of J1 (V)). Then for any positive
integer 𝑛, V + (𝑛 − 1)𝑠 = ∑𝑛𝑖=1 V𝑖 with V𝑖 ∈ E(J)1 for each
𝑖 = 1, . . . , 𝑛.
Proof. Since V ∈ E(J)1 , J1 (V) is a 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra with unit
V. Since ‖ − 𝑠‖ < 1 in J1 (V), V + 𝑠 and so (1/2)(V + 𝑠)
are invertible elements in J1 (V) (cf. [22, Lemma 2.1(iii)]).
Clearly, ‖(1/2)(V + 𝑠)‖ < 1. Hence, by [7, Lemma 2.1], there
exist unitaries V1 , V2 ∈ U(J1 (V)) with V + 𝑠 = V1 + V2 .
Moreover, V1 , V2 ∈ E(J)1 by [20, Lemma 4]. The required
result now follows by induction on 𝑛.
Definition 13. For any element 𝑥 in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J, the
number 𝑒𝑚 (𝑥) is defined by 𝑒𝑚 (𝑥) := min{𝑛 : 𝑥 =
(1/𝑛) ∑𝑛𝑗=1 V𝑗 , V𝑗 ∈ E(J)1 }. If 𝑥 has no such decomposition,
then 𝑒𝑚 (𝑥) := ∞.
Next result describes a basic connection between 𝑒𝑚 (𝑥)
and the distance to the set E(J)1 .
Theorem 14. Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple, V ∈ E(J)1 and 𝑥 ∈ J
with 𝑛𝑥 − V ∈ J1 (V) satisfying ‖𝑛𝑥 − V‖ < 𝑛 − 1 for some
𝑛 ≥ 2. Then 𝑒𝑚 (𝑥) ≤ 𝑛. On the other hand, if 𝑒𝑚 (𝑥) ≤ 𝑛, then
dist(𝑛𝑥, E(J)1 ) ≤ 𝑛 − 1.
Proof. Clearly, (𝑛 − 1)−1 (𝑛𝑥 − V) ∈ (J1 (V))∘1 . Replacing 𝑠 by
(𝑛 − 1)−1 (𝑛𝑥 − V) in Theorem 12, we get 𝑥 = (1/𝑛)(V + (𝑛 −
1)𝑠) = (1/𝑛) ∑𝑛𝑖=1 V𝑖 with V𝑖 ∈ E(J)1 for 𝑖 = 1, . . . , 𝑛. Thus,
𝑒𝑚 (𝑥) ≤ 𝑛. On the other hand, suppose 𝑒𝑚 (𝑥) ≤ 𝑛. Then 𝑥 =
𝑟−1 ∑𝑟𝑖=1 V𝑖 for some 1 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 𝑛 with V𝑖 s in E(J)1 . Then ‖𝑥‖ ≤
𝑟−1 ∑𝑟𝑖=1 ‖V𝑖 ‖ = 1. Further, ‖𝑟𝑥 − V1 ‖ = ‖ ∑𝑟𝑖=2 V𝑖 ‖ ≤ 𝑟 − 1.
Hence, ‖𝑛𝑥 − V1 ‖ = ‖(𝑛 − 𝑟)𝑥 + 𝑟𝑥 − V1 ‖ ≤ ‖(𝑛 − 𝑟)𝑥‖ +
‖𝑟𝑥 − V1 ‖ ≤ 𝑛 − 𝑟 + 𝑟 − 1 = 𝑛 − 1 since ‖𝑥‖ ≤ 1. Thus,
dist(𝑛𝑥, E(J)1 ) = inf 𝑤∈E(J)1 ‖𝑛𝑥 − 𝑤‖ ≤ ‖𝑛𝑥 − V1 ‖ ≤ 𝑛 −
1.
For any V ∈ E(J)1 , the set E(J)1 includes the set of
all unitaries in J1 (V), as seen above from [20, Lemma 4];
the following example shows that the inclusion generally is
proper.
Abstract and Applied Analysis
Example 15. Let J be the 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple M12 (C), and let V
denotes the matrix [1 0]. Then ‖V‖ = 1 and VV𝑡 V = V. So,
V is a norm one tripotent matrix. Moreover, for any matrix
𝑧 = [𝑧1 𝑧2 ], we have 𝐿 V,V 𝑧 = [𝑧1 (1/2)𝑧2 ]. Also note that
𝑃V 𝑧 = [𝑧1 0], where 𝑧𝑖 denotes the complex conjugate of
𝑧𝑖 . So that, 𝑃V 𝑃V 𝑧 = [𝑧1 0]. Hence, 𝐵(V, V)𝑧 = [𝑧1 𝑧2 ] −
2 [𝑧1 (1/2)𝑧2 ] + [𝑧1 0] = [0 0]. Thus, V ∈ E(J)1 .
Next, consider the Peirce spaces of J, relative to the
extreme point matrix V = [1 0], given by J1 (V) = {𝑧 :
𝑧 = [𝑧1 0], 𝑧1 ∈ C}, J1/2 (V) = {𝑧 : 𝑧 = [0 𝑧2 ], 𝑧2 ∈
C} and J0 (V) = {[0 0]}. Clearly, both the balls (J1 (V))1
and (J1/2 (V))1 are nontrivial. It is easily seen that the matrix
[0 1] ∈ E(J)1 \ M1 (V).
From [6, 7], we know different proofs of strict analogue
of the Russo-Dye theorem for general (unital) 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebras.
Unfortunately, there exists no exact analogue of the Russo-
Dye theorem for nonunital 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples. The following result
is an appropriate analogue for an arbitrary 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple, where
co E(J)1 and coE(J)1 denote the convex hull of E(J)1 and
its norm closure, respectively.
∗
Theorem 16 (A Russo-Dye Theorem type for 𝐽𝐵 -triples).
Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple, V ∈ E(J)1 .
(i) For any 𝑥 ∈ J1 (V) with ‖𝑥‖ < 1 − 2𝑛−1 for some 𝑛 ≥ 3,
there exists V𝑖 ∈ E(J)1 for all 𝑖 = 1, 2, 3, . . . , 𝑛 such
that 𝑥 = (1/𝑛) ∑𝑛𝑖=1 V𝑖 .
(ii) (J1 (V))∘1 ⊆ coE(J)1 .
(iii) (J1 (V))1 ⊆ coE(J)1 .
Proof. (i) Since ‖𝑥‖ < 1 − 2𝑛−1 , we have ‖𝑛𝑥‖ < 𝑛 − 2, so
that ‖(𝑛 − 1)−1 (𝑛𝑥 − V)‖ < 1. Also, note that (𝑛 − 1)−1 (𝑛𝑥 −
V) ∈ J1 (V); recall that 𝑥 is in the 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra J1 (V). Hence, by
taking V the same as in Theorem 12 while 𝑠 = (𝑛−1)−1 (𝑛𝑥−V),
we get 𝑛𝑥 = ∑𝑛𝑖=1 V𝑖 for some extremes V𝑖 s in J.
(ii) Suppose 𝑥 ∈ (J1 (V))∘1 . Then ‖𝑥‖ < 1 − 2𝑛−1 for some
positive integer 𝑛 ≥ 3. Therefore, 𝑥 ∈ coE(J)1 by the part (i).
(iii) Using the part (ii), we get (J1 (V))1 = (J1 (V))∘1 ⊆
coE(J)1 .
Remark 17. If a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J has a BP-quasi invertible element
then E(J)1 is a nonempty set by Theorem 6. Hence, the above
theorem holds in this case.
Corollary 18. For any extreme point V of the closed unit ball
in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J, (J1 (V))1 ⊂ coE(J)1 . If V is a unitary
element in J, then (J)1 = coE(J)1 = coU(J). Moreover,
⋃𝑤∈E(J)1 (J1 (𝑤))1 = coU(J) = coE(J)1 = (J)1 .
Proof. We know from [20, Lemma 4] that U(J1 (V)) ⊆
E(J)1 . So, by the Russo-Dye Theorem for 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebras [7,
Theorem 2.3], (J1 (V))1 = (J1 (V))∘1 = coU(J1 (V)) ⊆
coE(J)1 . By Example 15, there exists a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J with
𝑢, V ∈ E(J)1 such that 𝑢 ∉ J1 (V). Hence, we have (J1 (V))1 ⊂
coE(J)1 .
If V ∈ U(J), then 𝐿 V,V = 𝐼 (the identity operator on J)
(cf. [3]). So, J = J1 (V) which is a unital 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra, and
5
hence J is a 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra. Then, (J)1 = (J1 (V))1 ⊆
coE(J)1 ⊆ (J)1 = coU(J) by [7, Theorem 2.3]. Hence,
(J)1 = coE(J)1 = coU(J).
As mentioned above, every unitary element V in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -
triple J satisfies 𝐿 V,V = 𝐼, and so 𝑃(V)𝑃(V) = 𝐼 (cf. [10,
page 582]). Hence, V is an extreme point of (J)1 by [23,
Lemma 3.2 and Proposition 3.5]. Thus, for any V ∈ U(J),
(J)1 = (J1 (V))1 ⊆ ⋃𝑤∈E(J)1 (J1 (𝑤))1 ⊆ (J)1 = coU(J).
Therefore, ⋃𝑤∈E(J)1 (J1 (𝑤))1 = coU(J) = coE(J)1 =
(J)1 .
Corollary 19. Each element of the Peirce 1-space J1 (V) in a
𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J with V ∈ E(J)1 is a positive multiple of the sum
of three extreme points of (J)1 .
Proof. Let 𝑥 ∈ J1 (V) and 𝜖 > 0. Let 𝑦 = (3‖𝑥‖ + 𝜖)−1 𝑥. Then
‖𝑦‖ < 1/3. Hence, by Theorem 16(i), there exist three extreme
points 𝑢1 , 𝑢2 , 𝑢3 in J such that 𝑦 = (1/3)(𝑢1 + 𝑢2 + 𝑢3 ). Thus,
𝑥 = (‖𝑥‖ + 𝜖/3)(𝑢1 + 𝑢2 + 𝑢3 ).
5. Convex Combinations of Extreme Points
We continue investigating convex combinations, not neces-
sarily means, of extreme points of the closed unit ball. The
following result gives an analogue of [7, Lemma 2.1] for BP-
quasi invertible elements in a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple.
Theorem 20. In any 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J, J−1
𝑞 ∩ (J)1 ⊆ (1/2)
(E(J)1 + E(J)1 ).
Proof. Let 𝑥 ∈ J−1𝑞 ∩ (J)1 . Then, there is a unique V ∈ E(J)1
such that 𝑥 is positive and invertible in J1 (V) by Theorem 6.
In particular, 𝑥 is self-adjoint in the 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra J1 (V). This
together with ‖𝑥‖ ≤ 1 gives the existence of unitaries V1 , V2 ∈
J1 (V) satisfying 𝑥 = (1/2)(V1 + V2 ) by [24, Theorem 2.11]. The
result now follows from [20, Lemma 4].
The unit ball of a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J often has extreme points
in abundance, as in the case when J is a Hilbert space 𝐻;
however, the set E(J)1 may be empty as in the 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J =
𝐶∘ (𝐻) of compact operators on 𝐻 [25, page 151].
Theorem 21. Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple and V ∈ E(J)1 . Let 𝑥 ∈
(J1 (V))1 with dist(𝑥, U(J1 (V)) < 2𝛼 and 𝛼 < 1/2. Then 𝑥 ∈
𝛼E(J)1 + (1 − 𝛼)E(J)1 .
Proof. Since J1 (V) is a 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra with unit V, 𝑥 ∈
𝛼U(J1 (V)) + (1 − 𝛼)U(J1 (V)) by [26, Corollary 3.4]. Hence,
𝑥 ∈ 𝛼E(J)1 + (1 − 𝛼)E(J)1 by [20, Lemma 4].
Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple and 𝑥 ∈ (J)1 . We define 𝑉(𝑥) :=
{𝛽 ≥ 1 : 𝑥 ∈ co𝛽 E(J)1 }, where co𝛽 E(J)1 := {𝛽−1 ∑𝑛−1
𝑖=1 V𝑖 +
𝛽−1 (1 + 𝛽 − 𝑛)V𝑛 : V𝑗 ∈ E(J)1 , 𝑗 = 1, . . . , 𝑛} in which
the positive integer 𝑛 satisfies the condition 𝑛 − 1 < 𝛽 ≤
𝑛. We observe the following immediate connection of these
constructs with the number 𝑒𝑚 (𝑥).
6 Abstract and Applied Analysis
Lemma 22. Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple. Let 𝑥 ∈ J and 𝑛 ∈ N (the
set of positive integers). Then
(i) 𝑥 ∈ co𝑛 E(J)1 ⇔ 𝑒𝑚 (𝑥) ≤ 𝑛.
(ii) 𝑛 ∈ 𝑉(𝑥) ⇔ 𝑒𝑚 (𝑥) ≤ 𝑛.
(iii) 𝑒𝑚 (𝑥) = min(𝑉(𝑥) ∩ N).
An extension of [27, Proposition 3.1] for unital 𝐽𝐵∗ -
algebras appeared in [28, Theorem 2.2]. We use Theorem 6,
to deduce an analogue of the same result for 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples, as
follows.
Theorem 23. Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple, V ∈ E(J)1 and 𝑥 ∈ (J)1 ∩
J1 (V).
(a) Let ‖𝛾𝑥 − V0 ‖ ≤ 𝛾 − 1 for some 𝛾 ≥ 1 and some V0 ∈
U(J1 (V)). Let (𝛿2 , . . . , 𝛿𝑚 ) ∈ R𝑚−1 such that 0 ≤ 𝛿𝑗 <
𝛾−1 for all 𝑗 = 2, . . . , 𝑚−1 and 𝛾−1 +∑𝑚−1
𝑗=2 𝛿𝑗 = 1. Then
there exist V1 , . . . , V𝑚 ∈ E(J)1 satisfying 𝑥 = 𝛾−1 V1 +
∑𝑚
𝑗=2 𝛿𝑗 V𝑗 . Moreover, ]𝛾, ∞[ ⊆ 𝑉(𝑥).
(b) On the other hand, if ]𝛾, ∞[ ⊆ 𝑉(𝑥) holds, then for each
𝑟 > 𝛾, there is V1 ∈ E(J)1 such that ‖𝑟𝑥 − V1 ‖ ≤ 𝑟 − 1.
Proof. Since J1 (V) is a unital 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra, the part (a) follows
from [20, Theorem 2.2] and [20, Lemma 4].
(b) Suppose ]𝛾, ∞[ ⊆ 𝑉(𝑥). If 𝑟 > 𝛾 then 𝑥 ∈ co𝑟 E(J)1
with 𝑥 = 𝑟−1 (V1 +⋅ ⋅ ⋅+V𝑛−1 +(1 + 𝑟 − 𝑛)V𝑛 ) for some V1 , . . . , V𝑛 ∈
E(J)1 and positive integer 𝑛 satisfying 𝑛 − 1 < 𝑟 ≤ 𝑛. Hence,
‖𝑟𝑥 − V1 ‖ = ‖∑𝑛−1
𝑗=2 V𝑗 + (1 + 𝑟 − 𝑛)V𝑛 ‖ ≤ (𝑛 − 2) + (1 + 𝑟 − 𝑛) =
𝑟 − 1.
Corollary 24. For any 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J, co𝛾 E(J)1 ⊆ co𝛿 E(J)1
if 1 ≤ 𝛾 ≤ 𝛿. In particular, for each 𝑥 ∈ (J)1 ∩ J1 (V), 𝑉(𝑥) is
either empty or equal to [𝛾, ∞) or (𝛾, ∞) for some 𝛾 ≥ 1.
6. Distance to the Extreme Points
In this section, we prove some results on distances from an
element of a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple J to the set E(J)1 and to the set J−1
𝑞 .
We define the function 𝛼𝑞 : J → R by 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) := inf{‖𝑥 − 𝑢‖ :
𝑢 ∈ J−1
𝑞 }.
Lemma 25. Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple with nonempty E(J)1 and
𝑥 ∈ J. Then
(i) 𝛼𝑞 (𝑟𝑥) = |𝑟|𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) for all 𝑟 ∈ C;
(ii) 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) ≤ ‖𝑥‖;
(iii) |𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) − 𝛼𝑞 (𝑦)| ≤ ‖𝑥 − 𝑦‖ for all 𝑦 ∈ J;
(iv) if J is a 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra, then 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) = 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥∗ ).
Proof. (i) For any complex number 𝑟 ≠ 0, 𝑥 ∈ J−1
𝑞 if and only
−1
if 𝑟𝑥 ∈ J𝑞 . So, the part (i) is clear for all nonzero complex
numbers. If 𝑟 = 0, then 𝛼𝑞 (𝑟𝑥) = 𝛼𝑞 (0) = 0, one may consider
the BP-quasi invertible element (1/𝑛)V with V ∈ E(J)1 and
positive integer 𝑛 → 0.
(ii) Since for any V ∈ E(J)1 and any positive integer 𝑛,
(1/𝑛)V ∈ J−1 −1
𝑞 ; hence, 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) = dist(𝑥, J𝑞 ) ≤ ‖𝑥 − (1/𝑛)V‖ ≤
‖𝑥‖ + 1/𝑛. It follows that 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) ≤ ‖𝑥‖.
(iii) Since the set E(J)1 is nonempty, and since any
extreme point is BP-quasi invertible, 𝛼(𝑥) < ∞. Now, by
definition of 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥), for each 𝑛 ∈ N, there exists an element
𝑥𝑛 ∈ J−1 𝑞 such that ‖𝑥 − 𝑥𝑛 ‖ ≤ 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + 1/𝑛. Hence, 𝛼𝑞 (𝑦) ≤
‖𝑦 − 𝑥𝑛 ‖ ≤ ‖𝑦 − 𝑥‖ + ‖𝑥 − 𝑥𝑛 ‖ ≤ ‖𝑥 − 𝑦‖ + 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + 1/𝑛 for all
𝑛 ∈ N, so that 𝛼𝑞 (𝑦) ≤ ‖𝑥 − 𝑦‖ + 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥). Interchanging 𝑥 and 𝑦,
we get 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) ≤ ‖𝑥−𝑦‖+𝛼𝑞 (𝑦). Thus, |𝛼𝑞 (𝑥)−𝛼𝑞 (𝑦)| ≤ ‖𝑥−𝑦‖
for all 𝑦 ∈ J.
(iv) Now, let the J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra. If 𝑥 ∈ J−1 𝑞 , then
𝑥 ∈ J−1
∗
by [4, Theorem 3.2], and hence 𝛼 (𝑥) = 0 =
𝑞 𝑞
∗
𝛼𝑞 (𝑥 ). Next, if 𝑥 is not BP-quasi invertible, then 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) =
dist(𝑥, J−1 −1 ∗
𝑞 ) = inf{‖𝑥 − 𝑢‖ : 𝑢 ∈ J𝑞 } = inf{‖𝑥 − 𝑢‖ : 𝑢 ∈
J−1 ∗
𝑞 } = 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥 ) since the involution “∗” is an isometry.
𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) provides information about dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) as fol-
lows.
Theorem 26. Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple, V ∈ E(J)1 and 𝑥 ∈
J1 (V) \ J−1
𝑞 . Then dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) ≥ max{𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + 1, ‖𝑥‖ − 1}.
Proof. Since V ∈ E(J)1 , ‖𝑥 − V‖ ≥ ‖𝑥‖ − 1. We assume
‖𝑥 − V‖ < 1, then the fact that V is the unit of the 𝐽𝐵∗ -
algebra J1 (V) gives the invertibility of 𝑥 in J1 (V), and so 𝑥 is
positive and invertible in the unitary isotope of J1 (V) induced
by certain unitary element 𝑢 in J1 (V); hence, 𝑢 ∈ E(J)1 by
[20, Lemma 4]. For any 𝑧 ∈ J1 (V)[𝑢] , we have 𝐿(V, V)𝑧 = 𝑧
and 𝐿 V (𝑢, 𝑢) = 𝐼 on J1 (V) since 𝑢 is unitary in J1 (V), so that
𝐿(𝑢, 𝑢)𝑧 = 𝐿 V (𝑢, 𝑢)𝑧 = 𝑧 by Theorem 2. Hence, J1 (V)[𝑢] ⊆
J1 (𝑢). For the reverse inclusion, recall that 𝑢 ∈ E(J)1 , and
so J1 (𝑢) = 𝑃(𝑢)(J) (see the above proof of Theorem 4);
similarly, J1 (V) = 𝑃(V)(J), and so 𝑢 = 𝑃(V)𝑤 for some
𝑤 ∈ J. Hence, for any fixed 𝑧 ∈ J1 (𝑢), there exists 𝑠 ∈ J with
𝑧 = 𝑃(𝑢)𝑠 = 𝑃(𝑃(V)𝑤)𝑠 = 𝑃(V)𝑃(𝑤)𝑃(V)𝑠 ∈ 𝑃(V)J = J1 (V).
Thus, J1 (𝑢) ⊆ J1 (V)[𝑢] . Therefore, J1 (V)[𝑢] = J1 (𝑢) as sets.
Moreover, we observe that 𝑎∘V𝑢 𝑏 = {𝑎𝑢∗V 𝑏}V = {𝑎𝑢∗ 𝑏} = 𝑎∘𝑢 𝑏
and 𝑎∗V𝑢 = {𝑢𝑎∗V 𝑢}V = {𝑢𝑎∗ 𝑢} = 𝑎∗𝑢 by Theorem 2. We
conclude that (J1 (V))[𝑢] and J1 (𝑢) coincide as 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples
and 𝑥 is positive invertible in the Peirce 1-space J1 (𝑢). So,
𝑥 ∈ J−1 𝑞 by Theorem 10; a contradiction to the hypothesis.
Thus, ‖𝑥 − V‖ ≥ 1.
By setting 𝑦 = ‖𝑥 − V‖−1 (𝑥 − V) + V, we get 𝑦 ∈ J1 (V) since
𝑥, V ∈ J1 (V). Then ‖𝑦 − V‖ = ‖𝑥 − V‖−1 ‖𝑥 − V‖ = 1. However,
the open unit ball B(V; 1) in J1 (V) about V is included in
(J1 (V))−1 (cf. [22, Lemma 2.1]). Therefore, 𝑦 ∈ (J1 (V))−1 .
From our above discussion, we also have (J1 (V))−1 ⊆ J−1 𝑞 .
Thus, 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) = inf 𝑧∈J−1 ‖𝑥 − 𝑧‖ ≤ inf 𝑤∈(J1 (V)) −1 ‖𝑥 − 𝑤‖ ≤
𝑞
‖𝑥 − 𝑦‖ = ‖𝑥 − ‖𝑥 − V‖−1 (𝑥 − V) − V‖ = ‖𝑥 − V‖(1 − ‖𝑥 − V‖−1 ) =
‖𝑥 − V‖ − 1 as ‖𝑥 − V‖ ≥ 1; which means 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + 1 ≤ ‖𝑥 − V‖.
However, ‖𝑥‖ − 1 ≤ ‖𝑥 − V‖, as seen above. We conclude that
dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) ≥ max{𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + 1, ‖𝑥‖ − 1}.
At present, we do not know whether inequality in the
above theorem can be replaced with equality. To give some
Abstract and Applied Analysis
partial affirmative answer to this question, we need the
following result.
Theorem 27. If J is a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple, then dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) ≤
max{1, ‖𝑥‖ − 1} for all 𝑥 ∈ J−1
𝑞 .
Proof. Let 𝑥 ∈ J−1𝑞 . Then by Theorem 6, 𝑥 is positive invert-
∗
ible in the 𝐽𝐵 -algebra J1 (V) for some V ∈ E(J)1 , which is
a 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra with unit V. Hence, 𝑥 being positive satisfies
‖𝑥 − V‖ = dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) by [26, Proposition 3.2]. By the
functional calculus for positive elements in 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebras,
{1 if ‖𝑥‖ ≤ 2;
‖𝑥 − V‖ ≤ { (2)
− 1 if ‖𝑥‖ ≥ 2.
{‖𝑥‖
Hence, dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) ≤ max{1, ‖𝑥‖ − 1} for all 𝑥 ∈ J−1𝑞 .
−1
Next, suppose (𝑥𝑛 ) is a sequence in J𝑞 such that ‖𝑥𝑛 − 𝑥‖ <
(1/𝑛) for all 𝑛 ∈ N. By Theorem 6, there exists a unique V𝑛 ∈
E(J)1 corresponding to each 𝑥𝑛 . Hence, dist(𝑥𝑛 , E(J)1 ) ≤
‖𝑥𝑛 − V𝑛 ‖ for all 𝑛. By (2), ‖𝑥𝑛 − V𝑛 ‖ ≤ max{1, ‖𝑥𝑛 ‖ − 1} for
all 𝑛. Hence, for large 𝑛, we get dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) ≤ ‖𝑥 − V𝑛 ‖ =
‖𝑥𝑛 − V𝑛 ‖ + ‖𝑥 − 𝑥𝑛 ‖ ≤ max{1, ‖𝑥𝑛 ‖ − 1} + (1/𝑛) by using (2).
It follows that dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) ≤ max{1, ‖𝑥‖ − 1}.
The following result gives some cases in which the inequa-
lity appearing in Theorem 26 becomes equality.
Theorem 28. Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple, V ∈ E(J)1 , and 𝑥 ∈
J1 (V) \ J−1
𝑞 .
(i) If 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) = ‖𝑥‖ then dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) = 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + 1. In par-
ticular, 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) = ‖𝑥‖ = 1 implies dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) = 2.
(ii) If 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) < ‖𝑥‖ = 1, then dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) = 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + 1.
Proof. (i) Since 0 ∈ J−1 𝑞 , dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) ≤ ‖𝑥 − 0‖ +
dist(0, E(J)1 ) ≤ 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + max{1, ‖0‖ − 1} = 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + 1 by
Theorem 27. On the other hand, dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) ≥ 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + 1
by Theorem 26. Hence, the part (i) is proved.
(ii) Let 𝜖 > 0 with 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + 𝜖 < 1. Then there exists 𝑦 ∈ J−1𝑞
such that ‖𝑦−𝑥‖ < 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥)+𝜖. So, ‖𝑦‖ ≤ ‖𝑦−𝑥‖+‖𝑥‖ < 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥)+
𝜖 + 1 < 2. Since 𝑦 ∈ J−1 𝑞 , 𝑦 is positive and invertible in J1 (V)
for some V ∈ E(J)1 by Theorem 6; J1 (V) is a 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebra
with unit V. By the continuous functional calculus, we get ‖𝑦−
V‖ ≤ ‖𝑦‖ − 1 < 2 − 1 = 1 since ‖𝑦‖ < 2. Therefore, ‖𝑥 − V‖ ≤
‖𝑥−𝑦‖+‖𝑦−V‖ < 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥)+𝜖+1. Hence, dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) ≤ 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥)+
1. Moreover, dist(𝑥, E(J)1 ) ≥ 𝛼𝑞 (𝑥) + 1 by Theorem 26.
The next result gives some conditions sufficient for the
existence of extreme point approximants.
Corollary 29. Let J be a 𝐽𝐵∗ -triple, V ∈ E(J)1 and 𝑥 ∈ J
with ‖𝑥‖ ≥ 2.
(i) If 𝑥 is positive in J1 (V), then ‖𝑥 − V‖ = ‖𝑥‖ − 1.
(ii) If 𝑥 ∈ J−1
𝑞 , then there is 𝑢 ∈ E(J)1 such that ‖𝑥 − 𝑢‖ =
‖𝑥‖ − 1.
7
Proof. (i) Since V being an extreme point of the closed unit
ball, V is a tripotent in J, V = 𝑃V V = {VV∗ V}. Hence, ‖V‖ =
‖{VV∗ V}‖ = ‖V‖3 , so that ‖V‖ = 1. Now, since 𝑥 is positive in
J1 (V) and since ‖𝑥‖ ≥ 2, we get by the functional calculus for
positive elements that ‖𝑥 − V‖ = ‖𝑥‖ − 1.
(ii) Suppose 𝑥 ∈ J−1 𝑞 . By Theorem 6, 𝑥 is positive in J1 (V)
for some V ∈ E(J)1 . Hence, ‖𝑥 − 𝑢‖ = ‖𝑥‖ − 1 by Part (i).
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by King Saud University, Deanship
of Scientific Research, College of Science, Research Center.
The authors thank the anonymous referees for their helpful
comments for improving the presentation of this work.
References
[1] L. G. Brown and G. K. Pedersen, “On the geometry of the unit
ball of a 𝐶∗ -algebra,” Journal für die Reine und Angewandte
Mathematik, vol. 469, pp. 113–147, 1995.
[2] L. G. Brown and G. K. Pedersen, “Approximation and convex
decomposition by extremals in a 𝐶∗ -algebra,” Mathematica
Scandinavica, vol. 81, no. 1, pp. 69–85, 1997.
[3] H. Upmeier, Symmetric Banach manifolds and Jordan C∗ -
algebras, vol. 104 of North-Holland Mathematics Studies, North-
Holland Publishing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1985.
[4] H. M. Tahlawi and A. A. Siddiqui, “Analogue of Brown-
Pedersen’ quasi invertibility for 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples,” International Jour-
nal of Mathematical Analysis, vol. 5, no. 30, pp. 1469–1476, 2011.
[5] H. M. Tahlawi and A. A. Siddiqui, “On non-degenerate Jordan
triple systems,” International Journal of Algebra, vol. 5, no. 21-24,
pp. 1099–1105, 2011.
[6] J. D. M. Wright and M. A. Youngson, “A Russo-Dye theorem for
Jordan 𝐶∗ -algebras,” in Functional Analysis: Surveys and Recent
Results, vol. 27 of Mathematical Studies, pp. 279–282, North-
Holland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1977.
[7] A. A. Siddiqui, “A proof of the Russo-Dye theorem for 𝐽𝐵∗ -
algebras,” New York Journal of Mathematics, vol. 16, pp. 53–60,
2010.
[8] W. Kaup, “A Riemann mapping theorem for bounded symmet-
ric domains in complex Banach spaces,” Mathematische Zeit-
schrift, vol. 183, no. 4, pp. 503–529, 1983.
[9] M. Burgos, F. J. Fernández-Polo, J. J. Garcés, and A. M. Peralta,
“Orthogonality preservers revisited,” Asian-European Journal of
Mathematics, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 387–405, 2009.
[10] W. Kaup, “On Grassmannians associated with 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples,”
Mathematische Zeitschrift, vol. 236, no. 3, pp. 567–584, 2001.
[11] W. Kaup, “On spectral and singular values in 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples,” Pro-
ceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section A, vol. 96, no. 1, pp.
95–103, 1996.
[12] O. Loos, Jordan Pairs, Lecture Notes in Mathematics, Springer,
New York, NY, USA, 1975.
[13] K. Meyberg, “von Neumann regularity in Jordan triple systems,”
Archiv der Mathematik, vol. 23, pp. 589–593, 1972.
[14] W. Kaup, “On the CR-structure of certain linear group orbits in
infinite dimensions,” Annali della Scuola Normale Superiore di
Pisa. Classe di Scienze. Serie V, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 535–554, 2004.
[15] A. Fernández López, E. Garcı́a Rus, E. Sánchez Campos, and
M. Siles Molina, “Strong regularity and generalized inverses in
8 Abstract and Applied Analysis

Jordan systems,” Communications in Algebra, vol. 20, no. 7, pp.

1917–1936, 1992.
[16] L. J. Bunce, C. H. Chu, and B. Zalar, “Structure spaces and
decomposition in 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples,” Mathematica Scandinavica, vol.
86, no. 1, pp. 17–35, 2000.
[17] C. M. Edwards and G. T. Rüttimann, “Compact tripotents in
bi-dual 𝐽𝐵∗ -triples,” Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge
Philosophical Society, vol. 120, no. 1, pp. 155–173, 1996.
[18] L. L. Stachó, “On the spectrum of inner derivations in partial
Jordan triples,” Mathematica Scandinavica, vol. 66, no. 2, pp.
242–248, 1990.
[19] M. Burgos, E. A. Kaidi, A. M. Campoy, A. M. Peralta, and M.
Ramı́rez, “Von Neumann regularity and quadratic conorms in
𝐽𝐵∗ -triples and 𝐶∗ -algebras,” Acta Mathematica Sinica, vol. 24,
no. 2, pp. 185–200, 2008.
[20] A. A. Siddiqui, “Average of two extreme points in 𝐽𝐵𝑊∗ -triples,”
Japan Academy. Proceedings. Series A, vol. 83, no. 9-10, pp. 176–
178, 2007.
[21] M. A. Rakha, “On the Moore-Penrose generalized inverse
matrix,” Applied Mathematics and Computation, vol. 158, no. 1,
pp. 185–200, 2004.
[22] A. A. Siddiqui, “𝐽𝐵∗ -algebras of topological stable rank 1,” Inter-
national Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences,
Article ID 37186, 24 pages, 2007.
[23] W. Kaup and H. Upmeier, “Jordan algebras and symmetric
Siegel domains in Banach spaces,” Mathematische Zeitschrift,
vol. 157, no. 2, pp. 179–200, 1977.
[24] A. A. Siddiqui, “Self-adjointness in unitary isotopes of 𝐽𝐵∗ -alge-
bras,” Archiv der Mathematik, vol. 87, no. 4, pp. 350–358, 2006.
[25] J. M. Isidro, “A glimpse at the theory of Jordan-Banach triple
systems,” Revista Matemática de la Universidad Complutense de
Madrid, vol. 2, pp. 145–156, 1989.
[26] A. A. Siddiqui, “Convex combinations of unitaries in 𝐽𝐵∗ -alge-
bras,” New York Journal of Mathematics, vol. 17, pp. 127–137, 2011.
[27] M. Rørdam, “Advances in the theory of unitary rank and regular
approximation,” Annals of Mathematics, vol. 128, no. 1, pp. 153–
172, 1988.
[28] A. A. Siddiqui, “The 𝜆 𝑢 -function in 𝐽𝐵∗ -algebras,” New York
Journal of Mathematics, vol. 17, pp. 139–147, 2011.
The Scientific
World Journal
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
http://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013

Impact Factor 1.730

28 Days Fast Track Peer Review
All Subject Areas of Science
Submit at http://www.tswj.com